Things that make you pause.
The family and I took the time today to go and look at another idea that we have been dreaming of for quite some time. We have been looking at the idea that it would be nice to have a RV. We have also decided what we want, a KZ Escalade Sportster. Nice luxury RV. It has things that a home has such as central vaccum system, built in fireplace, built in (faux) grandfather clock, corian cabinet tops, etc, etc. I love this thing but one thing always seems to get me when I leave the dealership, the cost! Right now this time of year they are getting rid of the current year models because the new models are coming in.
So as a result you get a RV that was close to $100k in the beginning of the year and now is on sale for $60k. Not a bad discount. You go in and love the RV, you start talking dollars and sense (yes sense at this point). You start to add a couple of things like a hitch for the truck, the tax title and liscense, etc. and suddenly you are back at $80k total. Even if you get a good deal and finance it for 20 years you still end up with a $700 dollar payment. That itself is almost do able if you are considering selling you home and living in the trailer. However you still have not got all the costs.
This is where the real cost starts to add up on you to the point you just might have to get another job, or hope that the one you have does not suddenly fall out on you. Ok you have the $700 for the trailer, now what about storage? The dealership is kind enough to offer that service for you if you like, for a mear $150 a month. Well that seems ok I guess, what other costs do I need to consider? OK the next thing is insurance. One quick call to your insurance company should help you out. Yes, no problem they offer that, only $850 per six months. Or to those of us who figure things ona monthly basis, $141.66 a month for the year. I have not even thought of what it might cost to actually go somewhere at this point because I started to think I cannot afford this.
Let me see $700+$150+$141.66= $991.66 if my calculator is right. Wow! I have heard of a cheap place to park being about $285 a month. Now I know that you can boondock on public land but still $991.66. Well it looks like that is so far from my budget that I would have to sell the house just to be able to buy the trailer, not the ideal thing I was thinking of as having the option to sell the house one day and fulltime. Now if I had fell for the closer trying to get me to just put $500 down to hold it, I would be out $500 about this time.
Sure glad I took the time to pause, and make a simple quiet choice.
Sean @ October 8, 2007